End gate and latching structure



Oct. 31, 1961 1.. J. REIMER END GATE AND LATCHING STRUCTURE Filed May18, 1960 IN VEN TOR. Leonard J fieimer United States Patent 3,006,684END GATE AND LATCHING STRUCTURE Leonard J. Reirner, Danhnry, Iowa FiledMay 18, 1960, Ser. No. 29,835 Claims. (Cl. 295-51) My invention relatesto an end gate and a latching structure for the same.

An object of my invention is to provide an end gate having a uniquecombination of latching structures whereby said end gate can be pivotedfrom the top or the bottom, and which latching structures will providemeans for insuring that none of the latches will become 'disengagedwhile the other latches are being manipulated, and to further providemeans whereby the entire end gate can be removed when desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latching structurewhich will maintain the uniform spacing of the wagon sides and tothereby prevent changes due to Warpage.

A further object of my invention is to provide means which besidesproviding locking means for the latches will be at the same time providemeans for holding the end gate at desired supported elevation or angle.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of my end gate at attached to a wagon boxemploying my latching structure,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail of one of the upper latching structures,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along the lines 33 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional detail taken along the lines 4--4 ofFIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional detail taken along the lines 5-5 ofFIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the end gate in a supported position.

My invention contemplates the provision of an end gate having a varietyof features which will allow for convenient removal of the end gate, orwhich will allow for pivoting of the same at either the top or thebottom.

I have used the character 10 to designate a rear wall of a wagon box,which wall in itself provides the end gate, the character 11 indicatinga pair of vertical members having the channel portions 12 adapted toslidably receive the side edges of an upwardly movable auxiliary gate 13to whic gate are attached the pieces 14 to which are pivotally attachedat 15 the links 16 which engage at 17 the handle 18 which is pivoted asat 19 within the angle-shaped members 20 which are suitably secured tothe members 11.

Attached to the end gate 10 are the vertical side strips 21, andattached to the members 21 are the straps 22 which extend into theoutwardly bent portions 23 which extend into the further portions 24which are attached to the bearings 25, similar members 22, 23, 24, and25 also being attached to the vertical members 11.

Received within the bearings 25 and rotatable therein are the pair ofshafts 26 to which are attached the U- shaped handles 27, and receivingthe shafts 26 are the torsion springs 28 which springs are suitablyattached as at 29 (see FIGURE 5) to the bracket portions 30, whichportions 30 extend into the side flanges 31. The ends of the torsionsprings 28 are secured as at 32 to the shafts 26.

The side flanges 31 include the substantially circular 2 openings 33(see FIGURE 4) and passing within the openings 33 are the substantiallyrectangular or flattened ends 34 of the shafts 26. The openings 33extend into the reduced width portions 35, the passages 35 beingslightly larger than the thickness of the portions 34.

Attached to the upper ends of the vertical strips 21 are the flanges 36which terminate in the bearings 37 through which bearings pass thefurther short shafts 38 (see FIGURE 2), which shafts 38 extend into theflattened substantially rectangular portions 39, and attached to theends of the portions 39 are the latch bars 49, and attached to the latchbars 4% are the ears 41 to which are attached at 42 the chains 43, thesechains hanging downwardly and thence extending upwardly as shown inFIGURE 1, with certain of the links of these chains passing through theslots 44, which extend into the larger circular openings 45 to allowpassage of the chains therethrough, the openings 45 being provided inthe flanges 46, which are provided as a part of the wagon box, and beingsuitably attached to the base 47 of the wagon box, the flanges 46extending into the flanged portions 48 at right angles thereto, andattached to the flanged portions 43 are the upper plates 49 whichinclude the substantially circular openings 50 which openings 56 areadapted to receive the flattened portions 39, the openings 56 extendinginto the reduced passages 51 which are slightly larger than thethickness of the portions 50. Attached at the inner ends of the shafts38 are the cotter key and washer arrangements 52.

The arrangement is operated in the following manner.

if it is desired to discharge grain from the unit, the handle 13 isswung upwardly on the pivoting points 19 which will cause the links 16to draw the auxiliary gate 13 upwardly, a suitable opening beingprovided behind the gate 13.

The torsion springs 28 are adjusted or set so that normally theflattened portions 34 of the shafts 26 will be in the position shown inFEGURE 4, or in the locked position.

However, when it is desired to swing the lower end of the end gateoutwardly for any desired reason (see FIGURE 6), the handles 27 arefirst swung in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 4 whereby theflattened portions 34 will be allowed to pass through the passages 35,and whereby the lower end of the end gate can then be swung outwardlyand being pivoted on the short shafts 33.

During this action it is essential that the upper corner arrangementscomprising the flattened portions 39 etc. do not move out of place, andthis is accomplished by means of the relatively heavy chains 43 whichdue to their weight will maintain the flattened portions 39 in theirlocked position, or in other words, in position so that they cannotrotate and thereby escape through the passages 51. As a result the lowerend of the end gate can be swung outwardly without the entire end gatebecoming detached.

When it is desired to release the upper corners of the end gate, thelatch bars 40 are merely moved to from the positions shown in FIGURES 1and 2 whereby the flattened portions 39 will be allowed to pass throughthe passageways 51, and at the same time: the torsion springs 28 willmaintain the flattened portions 34 in locked position so that the lowerportions cannot escape from the flanges 31.

As a result of the above described arrangement, either the top or thebottom of the end gate can be swung outwardly at will.

After pivoting the end gate from the lower portions as shown in FIGURE6, the chains 43 which are locked at 44 will support the gate 10 in anyangle desired and as shown.

The washer arrangements 52 as well as the latches 40 also serve toprevent any spreading action of the side walls of the wagon box sincethe plates 49 by being positioned between these portions will preventwarpage and the like.

When it is desired to remove the entire end gate from the wagon box, thelatches 40 are first rotated and the upper corners will then be releasedas above described, and then the handles 27 are swung to release thelower corners as described.

It will now be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned in theobjects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims anymodified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a wagon box, an end gate including latchingstructures at the upper corners thereof, and at the lower cornersthereof, retaining members attached to said wagon box adapted tocooperate with said latching structures, means for locking said upperlatching structures against displacement while releasing said lowerlatching structures, and means for locking said lower latchingstructures against displacement when releasing said upper latchingstructures, said latching structures including flanges attached to saidwagon box having arcuate openings therein, upper and lower bearingsattached to said end gate including upper shafts journalled in saidupper bearings, said openings having slot portions, said upper shaftsincluding flattened end portions adapted to pass through said slotportions when said upper latching structures are to be released, meansfor retaining said upper latching structures in said locked positionincluding latch bars attached to said upper shafts, chains attached tosaid latch bars, the weight of said chains providing means formaintaining said flattened portions substantially at right angles tosaid slot portions.

2. In combination with a wagon box, an end gate including latchingstructures at the upper corners thereof, and at the lower cornersthereof, retaining members attached to said wagon box adapted tocooperate with said latching structures, means for locking said upperlatching structures against displacement while releasing said lowerlatching structures, and means for locking said lower latchingstructures against displacement when releasing said upper latchingstructures, said latching structures including flanges attached to saidwagon box having arcuate openings therein, upper and lower bearingsattached to said end gate including upper shafts journalled in saidupper bearings, said openings having slot portions, said upper shaftsincluding flattened end portions adapted to pass through said slotportions when said upper latching structures are to be released, meansfor retaining said upper latching structures in said locked positionincluding latch bars attached to said upper shafts, chains attached tosaid latch bars, the weight of said chains providing means formaintaining said flattened portions substantially at right angles tosaid slot portions, means for locking said lower latching structuresagainst displacement including further lower flanges attached to saidwagon box having further circular openings, further slot portionsmerging with said further circular openings, said lower latchingstructures including lower shafts journalled in said lower bearingsincluding torsion springs secured thereto and to said wagon box toprovide means whereby said lower flattened portions will besubstantially at right angles to said slot portions.

3. In combination with a wagon box, an end gate including latchingstructures at the upper corners thereof, and at the lower cornersthereof, retaining members attached to said wagon box adapted tocooperate with said latching structures, means for locking said upperlatching structures against displacement while releasing said lowerlatching structures, and means for locking said lower latchingstructures against displacement when releasing said upper latchingstructures, said latching structures including flanges attached to saidwagon box having arcuate openings therein, upper and lower bearingsattached to said end gate including upper shafts journalled in saidupper bearings, said openings having slot portions, said upper shaftsincluding flattened end portions adapted to pass through said slotportions when said upper latching structures are to be released, meansfor retaining said upper latching structures in said locked positionincluding latch bars attached to said upper shafts, chains attached tosaid latch bars, the weight of said chains providing means formaintaining said flattened portions substantially at right angles tosaid slot portions, means for locking said lower latching structuresagainst displacement including further lower flanges attached to saidwagon box having further circular openings, further slot portionsmerging with said further circular openings, said lower latchingstructures including lower shafts journalled in said lower bearingsincluding torsion springs secured thereto and to said wagon box toprovide means whereby said lower flattened portions will besubstantially at right angles to said slot portions, means for securingsaid chains to said wagon box whereby said chains will act as a supportfor said end gate when in lowered position.

4. In combination with a wagon box, an end gate including latchingstructures at the upper corners thereof,

and at the lower corners thereof, retaining members attached to saidWagon box adapted to cooperate with said latching structures, means forlocking said upper latching structures against displacement whilereleasing said lower latching structures, and means for locking saidlower latching structures against displacement when releasing said upperlatching structures, said latching structures including flanges attachedto said wagon box having arcuate openings therein, upper and lowerbearings attached to said end gate including upper shafts journalled insaid upper bearings, said openings having slot portions, said uppershafts including flattened end portions adapted to pass through saidslot portions when said upper latching structures are to be released,means for retaining said upper latching structures in said lockedposition including latch bars attached to said upper shafts, chainsattached to said latch bars, the weight of said chains providing meansfor maintaining said flattened portions substantially at right angles tosaid slot portions, means for locking said lower latching structuresagainst displacement including further lower flanges attached to saidwagon box having further circular openings, further slot portionsmerging with said further circular openings, said lower latchingstuctues including lower shafts journalled in said lower bearingsincluding torsion springs secured thereto and to said wagon box toprovide means whereby said lower flattened portions will besubstantially at right angles to said slot portions, means for securingsaid chains to said wagon box whereby said chains will act as a supportfor said end gate when in lowered position, handles attached to saidlower shafts for manipulating the same.

5. In combination with a wagon box, an end gate including latchingstructures at the upper corners thereof, and at the lower cornersthereof, retaining members attached to said wagon box adapted tocooperated with said latching structures, means for locking said upperlatching structures against displacement while releasing said lowerlatching structures, and means for locking said lower latchingstructures against displacement when releasing said upper latchingstructures, said latching structures including flanges attached to saidwagon box having arcuate openings therein, upper and lower bearingsattached to said end gate including upper shafts journalled in saidupper bearings, said openings having slot portions, said upper shaftsincluding flattened end portions adapted to pass through said slotportions when said upper latching structures are to be released, meansfor retaining said upper latching structures in said locked positionincluding latch bars attached to said upper shafts, chains attached tosaid latch bars, the weight of said chains providing means formaintaining said flattened portions substantially at right angles tosaid slot portions, means for locking said lower latching structuresagainst displacement including further lower flanges attached to saidwagon box having further circular openings, further slot portionsmerging with said further circular openings, said lower latchingstructures including lower shafts journalled in said lower bearingsincluding torsion springs secured thereto and to said wagon box toprovide means whereby said lower flattened portions will besubstantially at right anglfi to said slot portions, means for securingsaid chains to said wagon box whereby said chains will act as a supportfor said end gate when in lowered position, handles attached to saidlower shafts for manipulating the same, said latch bars being positionedgenerally close to said upper flanges to thereby prevent lateral warpingof said wagon box sides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

